Assault and ransack finger at TMC

OUR BUREAU

May 10: A CPM state committee member and three comrades were beaten up allegedly by Trinamul activists in Belgharia this evening while travelling to the local police station to lodge a complaint accusing the ruling party of ransacking a Left office.

State committee member Sayandeep Mitra and the three CPM workers were beaten up with sticks and rods by Trinamul activists, alleged Manas Mukherjee, a former CPM MLA. Sayandeep and the three others have been admitted to a nursing home, where the state committee member received stitches on his head.

CPM leaders alleged that a group of Trinamul activists returning from a bike rally led by transport minister Madan Mitra in support of Dum Dum candidate Sougata Roy had earlier ransacked the CPM office in Belghoria.

Mitra denied Trinamul’s involvement in the ransacking or the attack on the CPM members. “Trinamul has nothing to do with the incidents,” he said.

Dum Dum CPM candidate Asim Dasgupta and the police visited the party office. The CPM state secretary condemned the attacks.

Officer gheraoed

An IPS officer in Behrampore was allegedly kept confined to his car for over 15 minutes by Trinamul supporters when he stopped an Indranil Sen-led motorbike rally because the number of two-wheelers was over the permissible limit.

Indu Kumar Bhusan lodged an FIR against Sen, the Trinamul candidate for Behrampore, and 200 Trinamul supporters and informed special Bengal observer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh. As Trinamul supporters surrounded the car and demonstrated, a police team rescued Bhusan.

Bhusan said permission had been granted for 20 bikes but around 200 two-wheelers took part in the rally.

“I have lodged a complaint against Sen and 200 Trinamul supporters for obstructing me from discharging my duty and heckling me. I have also informed the Election Commission special observer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh,” Bhusan said.

Sen said the party activists had protested because the administration had yesterday “allowed” a 400-bike rally to campaign for Adhir Chowdhury, the Congress candidate for Behrampore, which votes on Monday.

Told that the number of bikes at his rally had exceeded the number permitted, Chowdhury said: “The procession initially started with 20 bikers but what can I do if others join on the way?”

Sen alleged that the police had seized several bikes and baton-charged Trinamul activists. The police denied the allegation.

Trinamul leader Ashim Kumar Nandi has lodged a police complaint against Bhusan, accusing him of assaulting party supporters and snatching keys of bikes.

Surrender call

Trinamul today said it would ask an MLA accused of casting 100 false votes during polling in Bankura on May 7 to surrender. An FIR had been lodged against Sonamukhi MLA Dipali Saha.

“Since an FIR has been lodged against Dipali, she has no option but to surrender. We will tell her to do so,” Bankura Trinamul chief Arup Khan told The Telegraph tonight over the phone from his home in Bankura.

The Election Commission today ordered re-polling at the booth in Bishnupur.